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40d:Lever
A lever is a device that can be linked to one or more other devices, permitting you to control these other devices through the lever's q menu. It needs one mechanism to be constructed (if you have a mechanism, you can build the lever with bTl). A lever is pulled through its q menu with aP. A nearby dwarf will then pull it. Pressure plates are like levers, but are activated automatically by creatures stepping on it. Levers, when linked to objects, will never require more than two mechanisms, and will always be able to activate the linked objects across even the longest map with ease.
Levers normally have an 'on' and a 'off' state. Upon being flipped, everything they're connected to updates to the lever's new state. This becomes important if you have several levers attached to the same device, which is permitted. Note, however, that gearboxes are an important exception to this: Instead of On/Off triggers, they simply toggle. It is unknown at this time if this behaviour extends to pressure pads and gearboxes, but this mechanic would suspect so.
Several devices, such as floodgates and bridges, have a delayed response to all incoming signals, and will not respond to subsequent signals until the first has taken effect. For instance, if you pull a lever attached to a floodgate on then off in rapid succession, the floodgate will only respond to the 'on' (open) signal.
Once a device is connected to a lever, it can only be unlinked by deconstructing the lever and reconstructing it. This will obviously require you to relink any other devices that you want to still be connected to this lever.
Objects that can be controlled by levers include:
Multiple Uses
- Bridge – Bridges have a delay of 100 steps when the lever is pulled.
- On: Turns the bridge into either a raised drawbridge, or a retracted bridge, depending on which option was chosen when the the bridge was constructed.
- Off: Returns the bridge to normal.
- Door – Note that once you connect a door, it is either completely open or locked. There is no "closed, but can be opened by a dwarf" state anymore.
- On: Opens the door.
- Off: Closes the door.
- Floodgate – After the lever is installed, it works exactly like a door. Floodgates, however, have a 100 tick delay. Therefore, it is more logical to use doors, at least until doors aren't usable for holding back water.
- On: Opens the floodgate.
- Off: Closes the floodgate.
- Hatch – When open it just disappears and allows water through. Note that, like doors, once you connect a hatch, it is either completely open or locked.
- On: Opens the hatch.
- Off: Closes the hatch.
- Grate – When it is open, it just disappears. Water goes through it just the same, but it cannot be walked on anymore. Anybody on it will fall.
- On: Opens the grate.
- Off: Closes the grate.
- Bars – When it is open, it just disappears. Water goes through it just the same, but it cannot be walked on anymore. Anybody on it will fall.
- On: Opens the bars.
- Off: Closes the bars.
- Upright Spear/Spikes
- On: Retracts spears/spikes.
- Off: Extends spears/spikes.
- Gear assembly – When it is disengaged, no power goes through it and anything that is being kept up by its presence (like a windmill right on top of it) falls down.
- On: Toggles gear state.
- Off: Toggles gear state.
One-Shot
- Cage/Restraint – Opens the cage/chain/rope and releases whatever it held. This is permanent and you will have to reinstall and relink the cages/restraints after one use. You recover the mechanism used in the cage/restraint but you do not recover the mechanism used in the lever.
- Support – Deconstructs the support, except without a dwarf next to it. Most commonly used to cause cave-ins.
Computing
Elaborate combinations of levers (or pressure plates) and other objects can be used to create mechanical systems that can perform various forms of computing.
| Rooms | |
|---|---|
| Furniture |
Animal trap • Anvil • Armor stand • Bed • Bin • Bucket • Cabinet • Cage • Coffin • Container • Restraint • Seat • Statue • Table • Weapon rack |
| Access | |
| Constructions | |
| Machine & Trap parts |
Axle • Gear assembly • Millstone • Screw pump • Water wheel • Windmill • Lever • Pressure plate • Trap • Support |
| Other Buildings | |
| Related Articles | |